• A clear majority-58% of Israelis believe that Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state in the long run if a demilitarized Palestinian state is established
• A decisive majority-78% are disturbed by the possibility that Israel may turn into a bi-national state
• 62% support the principle of “two states for two people”

Nearly half of Israelis support the idea of unilateral disengagement from the Palestinians:

• 41% of supporters from Likud Beitenu support unilateral disengagement
• A decisive majority-80% support maintaining a military presence in the West Bank in the case of unilateral disengagement
• 100% of supporters from Yehudi Torah
• A clear majority-64% of Meretz voters
• 76% support compensation for the voluntary evacuation of settlers
• 70% support came from right-wing voters
• 68% believe that the onus is on the state to aid in the absorption of settlers in the event of unilateral disengagement

A clear majority of Israelis-58%-believe that Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state if its borders will be drawn around the security barrier, and a demilitarized Palestinian state is allowed to be established.

These results were based on a poll conducted by Rafi J. Smith for Blue White Future in light of their event “A Zionist Party Debate: A Jewish and Democratic State”, which took place last Sunday at Tel Aviv University. 500 participants took part in the survey, which was meant to act as a representative sample of adult Jewish population in Israel.

The preferred scenario for maintaining the Jewish and democratic character of Israel amongst right-wing voters was to maintain the status quo-that is, avoiding annexation while controlling the West Bank-37% polled said that this was their preferred scenario. 8% polled said that they preferred annexation with full civil rights (a de facto bi-national state), 25% preferred annexation without civil rights (an apartheid state), and 30% said that they preferred two countries.

The survey also points to more right-leading tendencies amongst younger voters. 25% of respondents between the ages of 18-29 supported the scenario in which Israel annexed the West Bank without providing civil rights to its Arab inhabitants in order to maintain the Jewish character of the state, compared to 16% of respondents between the ages of 30-49, and 7% of respondents aged 50 and older. Younger respondents were also less supportive of an Israel with borders based on the security barrier and alongside a demilitarized Palestinian state: only 47% were in support of this scenario, compared to 51% of respondents aged 30-49, and 67% of those 50 and older.

62% support the principle of “two states for two people”

62% of respondents supported “two states for two people” a slight increase compared to another survey conducted in 2012. 80% of those positioned in the center left and right supported such principles, compared with 88% on the left and 27% on the right. There was also a significant difference between older and younger respondents. 69% of respondents 50 and older supported “two states for people”, compared to 63% of those between the age of 30-49, and  42% of those between the ages of 18-29.

78% concerned of the possibility of a bi-national state

In response to the question posed to respondents, “in the coming years, if a peace accord is not reached, there is a possibility that Israeli will turn into a bi-national state with an Arab majority; does such a situation bother you?”, 78% of respondents answered that they were concerned that such a scenario could come into being.

Almost half of the Israelis-about 45%-supported a disengagement from the Palestinians on the basis of the 1967 borders, while retaining the large settlement blocs, according to the survey conducted for the event at TAU. Similar surveys that were conducted earlier this year reported that only 38% of respondents supported a unilateral solution. In regards to distribution by political party, 47% of those polled planned on voting for Likud Beitanu (compared to 38% of Likud voters and 30% of Yisrael Beitenu voters in June). Support for unilateralism increased 16% amongst supporters of Habayit Hayehudi, from 25% in June to 41% in December 2012.

100% of Yehudat Hatorah supported the IDF remaining within the West Bank after a unilateral evacuation takes place.

An absolute majority of respondents-80%-supported the IDF remaining in place after an evacuation until a final peace accord has been signed.

Majority supports principle of compensation for settlers who voluntarily evacuate

76% of the respondents supported some form of compensation for settlers who willingly evacuate their homes over the Green Line before the government takes unilateral action. The highest rate of support for such action came form supporters of the Yesh Atid party-95%. 72% of Likud Beitenu supporters and 74% of Habayit Yehudi-National  Union supported the principle of voluntary evacuation compensation.

68% of respondents supported early preparations made by the state to absorb settlers living east of the security barrier in order to facilitate the implementation process, if and when they decide to implement it, compared to 78% of respondents polled in June. The decline in support was most pronounced amongst right-wing and ultra-orthodox voters.

This survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute amongst a representative sample of voters in Israel.